Ford Problems

Ford was having heaps of trouble with its dual-clutch automatic transmission back then, so it would be wise not to take the risk of buying one. Holden was in just as much trouble with the torque-converted auto in the Cruze, and I would urge you not to go down that route either. Instead of those, consider a Toyota Camry.

It’s most likely a problem with the engine management system; it could be a faulty connection, dodgey sensor, or a problem with the ECU.

It’s most likely the rear suspension bushes, a known problem with the Falcon. Have them checked.

The shuddering that caused such a flap with the Focus was related to the dual-clutch automatic gearbox that was fitted to earlier models. The 2016 model has a conventional six-speed auto and doesn’t have those issues.

The Kluger would meet your requirements nicely, so too would a diesel Territory. You could also look at a Kia Sorento.

There’s no good reason to not buy a Falcon, parts will be available for many years yet. There’s the Commodore, but it too is out of production. Other than that there’s no similar sized car available for you. You need to think about getting an SUV, such as a Toyota Kluger, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-5.

It won’t be the distributor or the spark plugs. If it happens when you turn the key to the start position to crank the engine it could be the starter solenoid.

Cars go into limp home mode for many and various reasons. It’s not everyday that the ECM has to be replaced, but it’s uncommon either. I wouldn’t be overly concerned about it doing it again. It’s possible that it could, but you’ll never be far from help from a Ford dealer if it does happen to fail again.